NHL Rumors: Potential Goalie Trade Between Devils & Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings recently placed goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic on waivers and kept journeyman Magnus Hellberg as their backup to Ville Husso. The team has taken some strides forward this season, but still aren't where they need to be yet to compete for a playoff spot for an entire season.

Though Nedeljkovic is a UFA at the end of the season, he has played well in the past and could be an option for another team at the trade deadline. Frank Seravalli linked the New Jersey Devils to this struggling goalie saying he could be a good fit in a tandem with Vitek Vanecek.

Mackenzie Blackwood hasn't been very good for the Devils and Vanecek has carried the load in net this season. He isn't among the top goalies in the league and could still benefit from being in a tandem as the team would have someone to fall back on during any struggles. The Devils are in a fight for the top spot in their division and appear bound for the playoffs for the first time since 2017-18.

Nedeljkovic burst onto the scene in a huge way with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2020-21, going 15-5-3 with a 1.90 goals against average (GAA), .932 save percentage (SV%), three shutouts, and a goals saved above average (GSAA) of 15.7. He was then traded to the Red Wings since the Hurricanes didn't want to pay him what he was asking for. The Red Wings are a much worse team defensively than the Hurricanes and a big reason for the massive drop-off.

The Devils generally control possession and don't allow the chances the Red Wings do. It could create a different feel in net for the Devils and give the Red Wings another option in net seeing as Blackwood is a RFA at the end of the season. The cap hits of Nedeljkovic and Blackwood closely line up, but it would be a risk for the Devils.